'Idol' shoots down dreams with insults

THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES By CHHUN SUN

People like to watch other people’s lives get dismantled. Especially when it’s televised. Call it the I-can-laugh-at-you-because-I-don’t-have-as-much-courage-as-you syndrome.

Case in point: “American Idol,” the reality show that has thousands of people chasing one dream – to earn a recording contract.

In its fourth season, “American Idol” is very unlikely to get canceled this season or next season or in this millennium, because people will always continue to find delight in another’s torture. And the viewers aren’t the only one to blame.

It’s the darned producers.

The audition process isn’t what it’s made out to be on TV. Not all of the world’s population showcases their flair in front of the judges, including the naughty British boy Simon Cowell. There are preliminary auditions in front of unknown judges, and then the worst and the best are chosen to be on camera. No in-betweens.

That’s like having the worst and best third grade spellers in a spelling contest just to see how big the gap there is between the two.

Take, for example, the WB’s “Superstar USA,” which had seemingly good-hearted individuals chasing an unattainable dream due to their lack of vocal artistry. They were broadcast to the masses to be laughed at, unknowingly.

Remember the childhood affirmation “we’re laughing with you, not at you”? That now is a lie.

Imagine if we did the same to those third grade spellers who haven’t yet developed good spelling skills. What if they were televised and were made to believe they were good spellers when, frankly, they couldn’t spell I.

That’s the point. These are people with a dream. And what they get in return, including the decent ones with decent voices, is a diatribe of unnecessary and unconstructive criticism.

But it’s entertainment. And not all entertainment provided by “American Idol” is bad.

Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino all achieved the ultimate prize. And William Hung, the fateful UC Berkeley boy who sang Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” while moving his hips in near-epileptic convulsions, received his own prize – the biggest loser award. Now he’s catering to people’s indulgence.